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August 29, 2026

COVID-19 update: May 16

Latest News

Greens urged to back pathway to end native forest logging

Some of NSW’s most respected and long-standing forest campaigners and scientists have today urged the Greens not to support the Nationals' attempt to disallow the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method.

Other News

Peek behind the scenes of ‘Love for One Night’

Directed and devised by Julian Louis, NORPA's acclaimed production 'Love for One Night' returns to the Eltham Hotel this Thursday, running until 12 September.

Big Council rates rise coming – self-reflection

A chance for self-reflection? Maybe Byron Shire Council should look at having a staff reduction, instead of a rate...

Two rescues in one day

Last Friday, Queensland Government Air (QGAir) Rescue 500 was tasked with two separate search and rescues in Tallebudgera Valley.

Lynda Dean – a life of love and making the world a better place

My beloved Lynda Dean was the rock and the heart that held in place not only me and our family, but an extraordinary network of friends and communities throughout the Byron Shire and far beyond.

Call to keep Bangalow Showgrounds in community hands

The Bangalow Park Trust, a volunteer community group that have successfully run the Bangalow Showgrounds since at least the 1950s, say they just want to get on with managing the showgrounds and don’t want Byron Shire Council to take over their role.

Monster rich

For a while we visited Northern Rivers until one year we felt and saw the changes. The rich elsewhere...

The Northern NSW Local Health District says that to 4pm yesterday, 15 May, 384 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the District, including 82 positive PCR tests and 302 positive rapid antigen tests (RAT)**.

Confirmed tests by LGA (PCR and RAT included):

  • Ballina 63
  • Byron 38
  • Clarence Valley 53
  • Kyogle 7
  • Lismore 81
  • Richmond Valley 26
  • Tweed 116

There are 50 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with none of these in ICU.

The NSW Health website has a range of COVID-19 information, including weekly COVID-19 surveillance reports which contain detailed analysis and trends.

You can also find more COVID-19 statistics on the NSW Government website.

If you have even mild symptoms or have had known contact with a COVID-19 case, please get tested as soon as you can. Please isolate while awaiting a negative result.

If you test positive using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), please register your result with Service NSW.

To protect yourself and others:

  • don’t go out if you’re unwell
  • take your mask with you so you can wear it if you’re somewhere you can’t socially distance, especially indoors, and
  • use hand sanitiser or wash your hands regularly.

** RAT results may be from within the previous seven days, and there may be some cases included in these numbers where people have reported positive RATs on multiple days and/or where people have also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period.


Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19

COVID-19 reduces Australian life expectancy

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Life shows life expectancy in Australia has decreased slightly for the second year in a row.

Wuhan market increasingly likely origin point for COVID-19

An international team of researchers has found more evidence that COVID-19 came from animals in a Wuhan food market.

Editorial – There’s a bat in my lab! 

The lab-leak theory that Covid-19 came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology – instead of a nearby wet market – was thrashed about in public recently, with the US Senate Homeland Security Committee holding a hearing into Covid-19. 

Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.

COVID-19 pandemic has cut life expectancy globally

COVID-19 reversed earlier trends toward longer life expectancies. During the pandemic, life expectancies globally dropped by 1.6 years according to a new study published in the Lancet medical journal.

COVID-19 update for New South Wales

Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day.

Five graphs you need to see before the Global Carbon Budget...

The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing.

Public transport mask mandate to end

Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September.



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Ballina Council makes decision on Ross Lane

With the absence of all four of its progressive councillors for various reasons, Ballina Council pushed ahead with its agenda at yesterday's monthly meeting, including a decision which is likely to close Ross Lane for months while the road is upgraded.

Mullumbimby puts new governance models first, and now wants to build it

Imagine Northern Rivers says Mullumbimby is the only community across the region to rank new models of governance and decision-making as the number one element of its preferred future, and last week locals gathered to work out how to make it real.

Appeal to locate man missing from Broadwater

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a local missing man.

Katie Milne responds to Tweed’s draft housing and employment strategy

The former mayor of Tweed Shire Council, Kate Milne, has shared her submission to Tweed's Draft Growth Management Housing & Employment Strategy.